An Inspiring Place To Spend One’s Day
New York Time Building by Khoi Vinh
Khoi Vinh is the Design Director for NYTimes.com. He started working in the paper’s new building this week. This is how he describes it:
The new Times building at 40th Street and Eighth Avenue in Manhattan’s midtown was designed by Renzo Piano, and whether it fits your taste or not, it’s hard to deny that it’s the most notable new skyscraper to rise on the island this decade.
From top to bottom, the new building is all metal and glass, like some kind of throwback to the early optimism of modernist impulses. But it feels not all anachronistic; rather, walking its hallways and staring out its windows, it’s almost brashly futuristic.
While this new structure looks and no doubt is impressive, I’m not a huge fan of tall buildings. I don’t mind gazing at them or pondering how they’re constucted, but I don’t want to work in one. For that I require a small, naturally lit, well ventilated space just steps from nature.
This building is not small nor is it steps from nature, to be sure, but with its all glass walls, it’s definitely naturally lit.
Comment by Khoi Vinh — April 28, 2007 @ 8:50 am
Deeb we have alot in common. That’s me too. I did enough dank, scary, dark, dusty, warehouse spaces for a lifetime.
From where I write this, I am 3 feet from nature, with a 7′x 5′ picture window and I have a great view of 11326 ft Pfeifferhorn.
Eventually you decide what is important and what is not.
Comment by Steve Jerman — April 28, 2007 @ 2:58 pm
Thanks for coming by Khoi. I mean no disrespect to Piano nor the Times. I’m merely reflecting on my own efforts to fit into the high rise environment on N. Michigan Avenue in Chicago. I felt terribly out of place for some reason, although I did enjoy the views of the lake.
Steve, one of the things I love about Salt Lake is the fact that mountains tower over it. That makes all buildings seem small.
Here’s a mountaintop shot I just Googled: http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1130264159053668481PzmArR
Comment by dB — April 29, 2007 @ 8:54 am